Fire extinguisher



2 Sheets-sheet 1 Patented 1937 l ausm PATENT ori-lcs ma Ex'rmcorsnna i cm1 ',x. minnen clayton, Mo, g spplicauonapril s, 1934, seal Nariaezs comme` (c1. zasssi jf j invention relatesto `nre" extinguishers. and has special reference to portable nre extinguishers of the type in which a stream `or jet oi Y liquid is forcibly ejected from a container by a "5 reciprocating, double acting"` pump mechanism.,

H Heretofore portable re extinguishers have usually includedmetallic containers for the liquid.

Such containers have frequently or generallyl been made of brass and have `been accepted and M f l recognized for many years as standardflre extinguishers, although several objectionable features were inherentin theirconstruction and iithas been desirable to overcome these objections. Because of the nature ofthe liquid (carbon tetra- 15` chloride,i a`pclea'r and `colorless liquid) usedin these fire extinguishers, the dependability and reliability of suchv extinguishers have been to a degree dependent and contingent upon inspection from time to time, and at proper times, to

` "3 l 20 determine `whether the liquid in the containers hadevaporated or had been otherwise removed; therefore, since the dependabilityand reliability o`f` such iire extinguishers `has `been contingent upon inspection from time to time, and at proper 25 times, it has sometimes occurred that the fire extinguishers became undependable and unreliable because of.,` neglect or oversight in making the timeto time inspections at proper times. i Furthermore," the metallic container wallsnof such i 30 re extinguishers have on occasions become distorted "or bent to Asuch an extent as to `prevent eiient and satisfactory operation of the ejector pump `when the re extinguisherfwas most needed. .In addition, it has been necessai'yltoinspect,` "135 the interior-of themetallic shell` extinguishers for `corrosion and such inspection required breakl i ing.` of the soldered `joints'securing the tops to the' containers," removal andsubsequent replacement of the pump, all of which required the services ,o 4

*40 of expert mechanics, In such ilre extinguishers, themetallic walls are, ofcourse, opaque and completely conceal the contents of the container from visual inspection without openingthe container.i-, ,i1 i i 45 i t Objectsof the, present inventionareto provide i an improved fireextinguisher` overcoming the foregoing stated objections andothers by pro` viding a transparent non-corrodible glass coni l u w 50 miner' filled with the liquid (carbon tetrachloride) which I color or stain in contrastwith the glass container, "so 'that said liquid must be consciouslyobserved by anyone inspecting 1or even noticing the extinguisher, thus aiording positive and v `55 constant indicationof the' amount' of liquid in devices.

end and overturned on solid supports. `or when dropped limited distances onto hard objects or 5 supports, and will thusmeet with thev existing high and rigid requirements,w`hich are not met u by easily breakable glass containers; to provide a cushioning device to receive and withstand shocks resulting from overturning the Icontainer onto l0 solid supports; tojprovide a container whereby the pump mechanism therein may be observed and inspected when the container is not filled with contrastingly colored liquid that obscures the pump` mechanism; to provide a glass container having an `integral bottom walljstrengthening and reinforcing the cylindrical wall of the container; to provide means for supporting theV pump mechanism in connection withfthe bottom wall of the container and also in connection with the cap attached to the upper end and thereby distributing the weight of` the pump mechanism and the strains and stresses exerted thereby when operated insuch a; manner as to n, provide a highly efllcient andsatisfactory extnguisher; and to provide a portable ilre extinguisher embodying all of the improved features `of construction herein disclosed or suggested, reference being made to the ainieixed` drawings, in Which- 30 Fig. l is a broken longitudinal diametrical seetional view of oneform of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a similar sectional view` of a variation in the arrangement of the pump and discharge This application acontiuation in part of mlpriorapplication, Serial No. 686,355, tiled August 2,3, 1933. i ,p f 3 The invention `shown `in Fig. 1 of the drawings comprisesalcontainer includinga sidewall 40 l and a `bottom wall 2 integral with the side wall andboth of non-corrodible material. `In the specific embodimentshown,` this container is of transparent glass'thatis characterized by a sui-L i cient degree of infrangibility to withstand considerable shocks without breaking. For instance, the integrally united `Walls] and 2 maybe made of transparent crystal glass and of Vsufficient, strengthV to prevent breakage when stood on the lower end and' overturned on andagainst solid 50 supports or when droppeda limited distance on and against hard objectsforfsupports or even when struck with considerable percussive force. The wall I may be formed with any desired numbei' of integral surrounding beads or ribs 3 which 55 said end thereof and threads I are formed around the outer side of the wall I at the open end thereof above the uppermost bead or rib 3.

A metallic cap 8 has a cylindrical part 9 extending into the open upper end of the container. The marginal portion I 0 of the cap 8 is seated against an elastic gasket II located against the `end of the wall I. A. clamping fastener I2 is screwed onto the threads I and has an inwardly extended marginal portion I3 clampingly engag- 'ing the marginal portion," of the cap l and thereby'securely holding the cap clamped against the gasket II with sufiicient pressure to provide a leak-proof joint. i 'nie fastener I2 isrformed with an outwardly extended bead Il'. which is of. larger diameter than and extends outwardly beyond the wall I and farther than the beads I and will receive and withstand shocks caused by overturning the container onto solid supports or the like, and will also support the adjacent above and out of contact with supports when the container is lying sidewise. g

A reciprocating pump device, comprising a tubular piston rod Il and a handle I5 attached to the outer' end of said rod and provided with a discharge nozzle It'opening into said rod, is operatively mounted in connectionl with the container. The rod I4 extends for sliding and turn- 40 ing movements through a bearing I1 and a sealing device I. in connection with the central portion of the cap I, so that said rod I4 extends axially into the container.V A pump cylinder I9 withinthe container has /its upper end connected with a member 2li mounted for turning movements on and about the rod Il and beingincapable of appreciable longitudinal movement. A corresponding member 2|, attached to the lower end of the cylinder I 8, is secured to a trunnion 22 having a flange 2l seating against the inner surface of the central portion of the bottom wall l of the container 'and has a portion 2l Journalled in the bearing 5.' Thus, the cylinder Il is supported for free turning movements about the longitudinal axis of the container andabout the rod Il and is prevented from substantial longitudinal movements. An inlet port 25, controlled by valves 2i and 21, opens into the upper end of the cylinder I9, and a similar inlet 0 port 2l, controlled by valves 29 and 3Il,`opens into the lower end of the cylinder. The structure, including the ports 2B and 2l and containing the valves 2i, 21, 2l and I0, extends laterally from the members 2l and 2| to points adjacent 05 to theside wall of the container, so that the liquid contents of the container will be drawn into the pump cylinder Il through either of said ports which may be below the other port in the operation of the device.l

The construction and arrangement shown and described, in which the open end of the glass container is strengthened and reinforced by the cap l and the clamping member l2 and in which the bearing l is formed in a reinforcing boss l in 75 connection with the bottom wall 2 of the conportion of the wall I.

tainer and inwhich the pump mechanism has its upper end rotatively supported by the cap 8 and its lower end rotatively supported by and in connection with the bottom wall of the container, provides a strong and sturdy construction that meets the known high tests and requirements and otherwise attains all of the indicated objects and purposes of this invention and overcomes the objections that have been herein sug- 'I'he transparent characteristic of the glass container permits ready inspection and observation of the mechanism therein when the container is empty, so that it is unnecessary to detach or remove the pump from the container in order to make inspection from time to time and at proper times.

The liquid (carbon tetrachloride) contents of the container may be and preferably are colored red, for instance, in contrast with the color of the transparent container wall, so that positive information is afforded at all times as to whether or not the container is filled with liquid. Moreover, the visible colored liquid in `the container is a warning that the stained or staining contents of the container should not be removed and used for cleaning purposes which often occurs in the case of devices at present in use and in which the containers are made of metal and the contents of the containers cannot be seen, whether said contents are colored or stained or not. The stained or colored liquid in this environment functions to indicate need of replenishment arising from loss through deterioration of the device or otherwise and thereby indicates need for repair of the device, functions not performed by the lcolored contents of thermometers or like instruments which substantially vary their levels under temperature changes.

The variation in the form ofthe invention shown in Fig. 2 from the form ofthe invention shown in Fig. l of the drawings involves a change in the construction of ythe pump mechanism whereby the jet or stream of liquid is discharged through the bottom wall of the container instead of through a nozzleattached to the operating handle.

The container includes a side wall Il and a bottom wall I2 integral therewith'and both of noncorrodible material. These walls are of transparent glass and are characterized by a sufficient degree oi infrangibility to withstand, without breaking. the considerable shocks mentioned in describing the structure of Fig. l. Said walls are of transparent crystal glass and the wall 3| may be formed with any desired number of integral surrounding beads or ribs I3 constituting spaced thickened portions of said wall SI. 'Ihe wall 32 is upwardly convexed and on its under side `is provided with an integral downwardly extended boss u having therethrough an opening 35. A nozzle or jet device Il is mounted in the opening Il and is secured therein by 'a clamping device comprising a nut il screwed into the inner end of the nozzle Il and having on its inner end a flange Il seated upon a gasket or washer I! mounted in an enlarged recess Il formed in the inner portion of the bottom wall 32. A tube 4Il has its lower end extending through and secured within the nut I1 and opening into the outlet orifice l2 of the nozzle.

A metallic cap 43 has a cylindrical part 44 extending into the open upper end of the container and interlocked with-the ribs 4B to prevent the cap from turning with respect to the container,

` receiving formed in connection with the cap Il and through a seal device 5l! supported `by said cap. The tubular piston rod extends centrally into the con- `tainer.` A pump cylinder 5| has its upper end attached to a member 52 mounted for turning movements on and about a piston rod 43 and its lower end attached to a member 53 provided with a bushing and bearing lmember 54 mounted for turning movements on and about the tube 4I and abutting against the inner end of the nut 31. The pump cylinder is thus supported for turning movements and is held from substantial longitudinal movements. l

A valve controlled passage 55 opens through the member 52 into the upper end of the cylinder 5I and a like valve controlled passage 56 opens through the member 53 into the lower end of the cylinder 5|. The structure in which these passages are formed extends laterally ilrom the members 52 and 53 to points adjacent to the wall Il of the container and adjacent'to the end 30 walls ofthe container, so that it is immaterial which end of the container is above the other. `These valve controlled ports are the same as the valve controlled ports 2i and 28, and are similarly controlled.

`Il handle 51. attached to the outer end of the tubular piston rod Il, supports a seal device il for engaging and closing the open upper end of the tube li when the tubular piston rod 4l is in its unoperated position. The unoperated position of the tubular piston rod 4I is that in which a sealing member l! is held seated against a rounded end I0 of the bearing 43. Operation of the pump forces the liquid into the open upper end of the tube Il, through said tube and out in the form of `a continuous jet or stream through the nozzle opening. v The pump mechanism shown in the drawings `comprises an ejector piston 3| mounted for sliding movements in the cylinders Il and li and operated by the tubes i4 and 4I in the vmanner described in my copending application, Serial No. 713,448, filed March` 1,` 1934.

The advantages of this construction are the same as the advantages mentioned in the descrip- 55 non of the structure shown in rig. 1 of the drawings and the objects of the invention are-attained in substantially the same way. Thus. it is apparent that I may utilize many important `features of my invention in an extinguisher diso charging from the operating handle and also in an extinguisher discharging through the bottom wall of the container.

The construction and arrangement of the features of the invention may be varied'withinthe 65 scope of equivalent limits without departure from the nature and principle thereof.

I claim:

i. In a transparent container having therein a colored ilre extinguishing liquid; a reciprocat- 'i0 ing tubular piston rod extending from within the container 1to the outside for conducting said liquid from said container without damaging said container, a discharge nozzle attached tothe outer end of said rod, and means visible through 75 the wall of said container forming spaced passages within said container and near the opposite ends thereof for conducting said liquid to said rod irrespective oi which end of said container is lower than the other.

2. In a transparentcontainer having .therein a colored nre extinguishingliquid; a reciprocating tubular piston rod extending from within to the outside Yof said container for conducting said liquid therefrom `without ydamaging saidcontainer, a discharge nozzle attached `to andopenf` ing into the outerend of said rod, means visible through the wall of said container forming spaced ing tubular piston rod extending from within to the outside of said container for conducting said liquid from said container without damaging said container, a discharge-nozzle attached to and opening into said rod, a device attached to one end of said container for supporting said rod, and means within said container and visible through the wall thereof forming spaced passages within said container and near the opposite ends thereof extending laterally from said rod to points adjacent to the wall of said container for respectively conducting into said rod liquid from that end of said container which is lower than the other.` v

4. In a transparent containerhaving therein a colored fire extinguishing liquid; a reciprocating'tubular piston rod extending from within-to the outside of said container for conducting said liquid from said container without damaging said container, a discharge nozzle attachedto and opening into the outer end of said rod,`a device attached to one end of said container for supporting said rod,`means within said container and visible through the wall thereof forming spaced passages within said container and near the opposite ends thereof extending .laterally from said rod to" points adjacent to the wall of said container for conducting into said rod liquid from that end of said container which is lower than the other, valves controlling said passages respectively, and means preventing simultaneous closing of said valves.

5. In a transparent `container having therein a fire extinguishing liquid; means visible through the wall of said container forming spaced passages within said container and near the opposite ends thereof for receiving and conducting said liquid from the opposite ends ofsaid container, a device pivoting andsupporting one end of said means in connection with one end of said container, a reciprocating tubular piston rod extendi ing through the opposite end of said container for receiving and conducting said liquid from said means to the outside of said container, a pivotal connection supporting the opposite end of said i means on said rod Vand visible through `the wall of said container. and a discharge nozzle attached to and opening into the outer end of said rod.

6. In a transparent container having therein a fire extinguishing liquid; means visible through the wall of .said container forming spaced pasi@ M m .mmmmmwm n mmmmmw w mmfm mmmmmmm mmm w u mmmmm mwN/mmm u u m u Numana @www M, fwn# mm u mm pm u n.mmm

4 mmmmmmm 

